Automatic operating device for doors, gates and like swingable elements



' Aug. 2, 1960 A LEIMER km. 2,947,534

AUTOMATIC OPERATING DEVICE FOR DOORS, GATES AND LIKE SWINGABLE ELEMENTS Filed Dec. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet JL f 6/ 55 Z! 5 k 2 1.? r 2 :5 f Z 7 5 6'3 l\ a a f .6 FIGS? /55 @i -21 INVENTORS I 445527 (M62 /A v 22: 40/3}; 42

Aug. 2, 1960 A LEIMER ETAL 2,947,534

- AUTOMATIC OPERATING DEVICE FOR DOORS, GATES AND LIKE SWINGABLE ELEMENTS Filed Dec. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

nited States AUTOMATIC OPERATING DEVICE FOR DOORS, GATES AND LIKE SWINGABLE ELEMENTS Albert Leimer, Beimlerstr. 15, and Kurt Aumiiller, Burgfriedenstn'2tl, both of Augsburg, Germany Filed Dec. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 703,689

Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 27, 1957 Claims. (Cl. 26865) The present invention relates to an automatic closure operating device for a door, gate and the like.

It is one of the important objects of the present invention to provide means contributing to a very efficient, preferably power-operated door opening and closing device which will permit the door to be opened and closed even when the driving mechanism therefor becomes inoperative due to power failure, and wherein no part of the drive mechanism will be operated, when the door is to be opened by hand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means affording a simplified and compact construction of a door opening device which permits the door to be opened substantially without resistance and then to be closed automatically in case the control members become inoperative, although there is no power failure.

Another object of the invention is to provide means redounding to a door opening device which, in the case of power supply failure, will permit the door to be opened without any substantial effort and to keep same in its open position, the door to be closed from such open position only by overcoming a resistance.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means ensuring a braking effect during both the opening and closing operations of the door which is operative only during the second half of the respective motion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means conducive to an easy maintenance and sturdy construction of an automatic operating device for doors, gates and like closures, which requires substantially no lubrication and remains effective for an extended period of time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means improving the operation of a door, gate and similar swingable member, whereby the closing of same is brought about by a force or power, which has been stored or accumulated during the opening movement of said member, but becomes only effective during a predetermined phase of said closing movement.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means affording the possibility of operating a door or like hinged member either by hand or through power drive, whereby, in the event the power drive fails, becomes defective or is completely stopped, movement of the aforesaid member by hand in one direction occurs without encountering any diificulty or resistance, whereas movement in an opposite direction is performed substantially automatically or semi-automatically, if desired.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means securing great etficiency in the operation of doors and like members, dampening means being interposed between the power drive parts, so that dampening or braking action occurs during a predetermined phase (i.e. second half) of the movement of the door while during a first phase of movement of the latter opening and closing operations-are practically unimpeded and Without braking effect.

2,941,534 Patented Aug. 2, 19%30 ire These and other objects of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows schematically in front elevation a device pursuant to the present invention, with the device mounted on a wall or door frame and having an actuator connected to the door;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the device mounted on a door with its actuator connected to a wall or the door frame;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation, and partly in section, of the device employable in the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the braking mechanism of the device, to which reference is made in the ensuing specification;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view (parts being broken away) of the free-wheeling coupling exposing an annular spring holding the coupling members together; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the free-wheeling coupling.

Referring now first to Fig. 5 of the drawings in detail, there is disclosed and shown a door-operating device 56) pursuant to the present invention. This device comprises a housing 1, preferably formed of a plastic or plastic composition or other suitable material. At the upper end thereof, the housing is provided with a brake cylinder 13, the wall In being common to the housing and cylinder. Said common Wall 1a is provided with bearing means 2 which mount an upper or drive shaft 4. Said shaft extends through the common wall from the cylinder into the housing. At its upper end, within the cylinder said drive shaft is provided with a preferably integral crank arm 5 which is pivotally connected at one end, as at 6, to a connecting rod 7 within the cylinder. At its other end the connecting rod is connected to a pivot pin 9 mounted by a brake piston 8 for reciprocation of the piston within the cylinder 13, to attain a braking action both during the opening and the closing of a door D (Figs. 1-4) operated by the device 50, as hereinafter described in detail.

The crank arm 5 is substantially perpendicular to the axis z (Fig. 6) of the cylinder 13 when the door is either in its fully open or completely closed condition. The cylinder 13 is adapted to contain a suitable braking fluid such as, for example and not by way of limitation, air or oil. The brake piston 8 is provided with a liquid or air flow opening 10 of conventional construction, provided with a valve 10a and having a portion 10b of restricted cross-section, conventional provision being made to adjust the size of the opening at said restricted cross-section (Fig. 5). The valve 10a operates to permit the braking fluid to flow through the piston 3 in one direction only, namely when the piston moves to the right viewing Fig. 5, the valve opening during such movement and closing during movement in the opposite direction. The brake cylinder 13 is also provided with a conventional back flow pipe 11 connected to opposite ends of the cylinder, as

shown. An adjustable valve 12, which is preferably a slide valve, is provided in the pipe 11 to control the fluid flow therethrough.

The drive shaft 4 is rotatable about the vertical axis 3 and mounts a pair of superposed control earns 14 and 15 which may be fixedly or adjustably secured thereto. The peripheries of said cams engage the actuator elements 16a and 17a, respectively, of a pair of limit switches 16 and 17. Said limit switches are of the micro-switch type and are suitably mounted on the casing 1 with the actuators thereof projecting through the casing aperture 1b. The control switches 16 and 17 are in circuit with the drive motor 18 and operate in a conventional fashion to switch the latter on and off.

In addition to mounting the cams 14 and 15, the drive shaft 4 is connected to the inner end of a flat, spiralshaped spring 19, the outer end of the spring being secured to the casing, as at 20. The drive shaft 4 extends through the center of the spring 19 and below the latter mounts the upper half or clutch cup '21 of a friction slip-clutch which comprises, in addition, a complementary bottom half or clutch 'cup '24 and a coupling lining 25. The upper clutch element 21 is keyed tothe drive shaft 4, as at 22, and the latter terminates at 4' at the division plane between the clutch elements or cups.

The lower clutch element 24 is coaxially rotatable relative to the upper clutch element '21 and the'lining 25 may be suitably secured, as by being riveted or cemented to one of the clutch elements. The lower clutch element 24 is mounted for rotation about the axis 3 by being suitably and rigidly secured to a lower shaft 26 which is coaxial with and vertically aligned with the upper shaft 4. The lower shaft 26 is mounted for rotation in the bottom housing wall 10, as by bearing means 27. However, the clutch element 24 may be mounted for rotation relative tothe shaft 26, as by ball bearings (not illustrated), in which case the shaft 26 may be either fixed or rotatable relative to the housing 1.

The shaft 26 extends through'a drive member 30- to which the lower clutch element is releasably coupled or locked by a one-way'or free-wheeling coupling means 29 which may be of any suitable conventional type. For example, and not by way of limitation, the coupling means 29 may bean-over-running clutch type having a roll key coupling, a ball key coupling, or, if required, a clamping piece coupling, the latter being a coupling which, instead of using clamping rollers, operates with swivelable or hinged clamping pieces which are not round.

'In any event, the one-way coupling device is positioned between the outer surface of the cylindrical or collar like member 36 and-a depending circumferential flange or skirt 24a which overlaps the upper end of the member 30 to define a space therebetween for accommodating coupling means 29.

It will be noted that the coaxial relationship of the upper drive shaft 4 and the lower shaft 26 can be readily maintained, even with the use of only the vertically aligned bearings 2 and 27 This is due to the fact that a constant coaxial relationship between the shafts 4 and 26 is ensured by the frictional clutch arrangement, the upper and lower elements 21, 24 of the clutch are constantly maintained in mutual coaxial relation by the clutch lining 25 or by conventional centering means (not illustrated) A worm gear 31 is integral with the clutch drive member 30, or may be rigidly secured thereto. The ball bearing means 33 provides for the rotation of the drive member and gear 31 relative to the shaft 26 which extends therethrough. The shaft 18a of the electric motor 18 is provided with a worm 32 in mesh with the worm gear 31 to provide a suitable reduction gearing means for the device 50.

Provision is made for a door actuator arm 34 which extends through an opening'ld provided in the housing I. Said actuator arm 34 may be integral with, or rigidly secured to the upper clutch member 21. The outer end of the arm 34 is pivotally connected, as at 35, to one end of a door control lever 36, the other end of the latter being hinged to the door D (Figs. 1 and 2), or to the wall W (Figs. 3 and 4) by means of the hinge 37. If desired, the lever 36 may be of alongitudinally adjustable type.

The energizing circuit (not illustrated) for the motor 18 is of conventional type and may be controlled in any suitable known manner. For example, and not by way of limitation, photo-electric cells, push buttons or switches (none of which being illustrated) may be provided for operating the reversible motor aggregate 18 in opposite directions to open and close the door.

The door opera-ting device 50 operates in the following manner: assuming now that the device is mounted on a wall W in which the doorkD is hinged, as at 51 in Figs. 1 and-2, the door being closed, a control push-button for opening the 21001 'is operated.

This completes the energizing circuit for the motor 18 and 'the motors'haft 18a isrotated inia'direction which rotates the gear 31 and its collar 30 in door opening direction, as indicated bythe arrow-38. The-one-way coupling means 29 looks with thelower clutch member 24 only when-feollar 30 r0tates in said direction so that the clutch member 24 also rotates in the direction of the arrow 38. Due to the frictional coupling 25 between the clutch elements, the upper clutch element 21 is rotated in the same direction to move the 'door actuator :arm 34411 the direction of the arrow 39. Said movement of the actuator arm .is transmitted through the lever 36 to the door and the latter .moves to its opening position, as indicated by the arrow 52 in Fig. 2. The rotation of the upper clutch element causes thecam members 14=and 15 to rotate in the same direction, and in the completely opened position of thedoor the cam 14 operates the actuator 16a of the limit switch 16 to deenergize the drive motor 18. Due to the rotation of the shaft 4, the spiral spring 19 is stressed. However, when the motor stops, the stressed spring is prevented from operating the shaft 4 in the opposite direction due to the locking action provided by the one-way coupling .29.

However, when the push button (not illustrated) for closing the door is depressed, the motor 18 is energized to rotate its shaft 18a and worm .32 in the opposite direction. This causes the worm gear 31 and the collar 30 to rotate in a direction opposite to the arrow 38 so as to unlock or free the coupling 29 fromits locked relation with the lower clutch member 24. The stressed spring 19 is now free to expand, the motor driven member 30-31 rotating at a faster rate than the spring operated clutch'elements 21 and 24. The clutch element 21 being driven by the spring .19 in a direction opposite to the arrow :39 causes the actuator arm 34 to rotate in said opposite direction to close the door. If the opening push button is depressed while the door is being closed, or after .itis closed, the motor 18 operates in its door openingdirectio'n to again lock the one-way coupling 29 with the clutch member 24 to open thedoor again. Consequently, it willbe apparent that the door .D can be opened again from any position thereof during its closing movement.

It will be also apparent that the clutch'elements have suflicient frictional engagement, during the opening rotation of the motor 18, to transmit the neces'saryrotational force to the dooroperating arm 34.

I-Iowever,'the friction between the clutch elements can be readily overcome when the door is closed by hand.

7 Moreover, the door can be easily opened by hand without resistance since it will bereadily apparent that pushing the door directly by hand causes the one-way coupling -29 to be released. Therefore, thedrive elements 30, 31 an'd32 are notmoved or afiec'ted when the door is opene'd by hand a'nd since they are not affected when the dooris closed by hand, it will be clear that the door can be opened and closed when'the drive mechanism is inoperative, as when'th'e powersupply'fail's orthe control devices become inoperative. Similarly, even without. power supply failure,'in case the control devices are inoperative, the door can be-opened with practically no resistance offered by the clutch and then closed again automatically. In case of power failure, the door can be opened practically witho'ut resistance and will remain in the openedcondition thereof, until closed by overcoming the resistance oifered by thegloeking "action 0f the coupling means 29. The resistance ofiered by said coupling means is sufiiciently great and of such reliabilityuas to maintain the door in said opened condition, This is of great mportance in an emergency, such as in a fire or panic occurring in a department store, .ofiice building, hospital, motion picture theatre, etc.

In lieu of the described vertically aligned shafts 4 and 26, it is possible to replace the lower shaft 26 with an inner shaft which mounts the elements below the clutch division plane 23 and to encompass said inner shaft with a rotatable cylinder or sleeve which mounts the members disposed above the plane 23. The only requirement for such a construction is that the parts connected to or cooperating with the upper shaft 4 must be arranged substantially coaxially with each other and form a unit, and the parts mounted on or about the lower shaft 26 are arranged coaxially relative to the first mentioned parts and are rotatable relative thereto, and the assemblies of each group of parts must cooperate by means of a frictional coupling with a one-way coupling in one of said assemblies.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an arrangement wherein the door actuating device 50 is mounted on the door itself and the lever 36 is connected to the wall W. However, the device operates in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 where it is mounted on the wall W and the lever 36 is connected to the door D.

Referring now to Fig. 6 in detail, there is shown a diagrammatic representation of the operation of the braking mechanism. When the doo'r is closed, the crank arm is in position e, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis z of cylinder 13. Consequently, the crank arm can describe the semi-circular path indicated in full line at a, but not the broken line semi-circular path indicated at b. During opening movement of the door, the crank arm 5 will first describe the partial path d in a counter-clockwise direction and then the partial path d in said direction. There is no braking action during the 90 rotation of path d because the valve opens during the movement of the piston to the right, viewing Figs. 5 and 6, said movement coinciding with said d rotation. But, when the crank arm moves in said counter-clockwise direction through the 90 rotation indicated by path d the piston 8 moves to the left, and the valve 10 closes and the braking action occurs due to the fact that the valve 12 prevents fluid flow therethrough to the right, viewing Fig. 5.

However, prior to or during a closing movement of the door, the crank arm is first in the position indicated at f in Fig. 6.

The crank arm then describes the first 90 path in clockwise direction, which causes the piston 8 to move to the right so as to be free of braking action. The crank arm then continues in the same direction through a second 90 rotation indicated by path 0 to cause the piston 8 to move to the left to compress the brake fluid between the piston and the closed valve 12 (the valve 10 being also closed) so as to brake the piston.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide other embodiments thereof. For example, the shafts 4 and 26 can be otherwise than coaxially arranged. Said shafts may be in spaced juxta-position, either parallel or obliquely related to each other. An appropriate transmission member, such as a toothed gear, a bevel gear, a gear lever or the like, may be interposed between the juxtaposed shafts in order to establish the required relationship therebetween.

The device 50 requires no special maintenance or periodic lubrication. The mechanical elements are provided with a special lubricant which is effective for a prolonged period.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the motor 18 is used only to open the door, the latter being clo'sed by the spring 19 which is stressed or tensioned when the door is opened. The reduction gearing oper- 6 ated by the motor rotates the inner ring or race, consti tuted by collar 30 for a free motion or one-way coupling 29. The outer race or ring 24a of said coupling operates the lower friction clutch element 24. The upper clutch element 21 is connected to the door, the closing spring 19 and the brake mechanism within the brake cylinder 13. The use of a free motion or one-way coupling makes it possible to automatically disconnect the main drive shaft 4 from the motor 18. The free motion coupling 29 operates in such a manner that when collar 30 is turned in door opening direction, the coupling 29 is driven in said direction by friction, in continuous dependence on the circumferential force of the collar so that there results a locking action against return motion of the coupling 29 in the opposite direction. Said locking action prevents the closing of the door by the stressed spring until the inner race or ring 30 is moved in the closing direction by the motor.

In one construction pursuant to the present invention, the power of the drive, in both opening and closing directions, attains a moment of inertia of 8 in. kg. sec. corresponding to a door weighing 350 kg. and having a width of 0.8 m. or weighing 10 kg. and having a width of 5 m. The capacity can be increased by the use of a three-phase motor.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A mechanism for operating a door, gate and like swingable element; comprising a housing, a brake cylinder fixed to said housing, an actuating arm extending out through said housing and operable in a first direction to open said door and in an opposite direction to close said door, an electric motor, drive means including a shaft in driving connection with said motor to move in one direction for operating said arm in said first direction, spring means in said housing arranged to be tensioned in response to said drive means when moved in said one direction, locking means for holding said spring means under tension until said drive means is driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said spring means upon release by said locking means moving said actuating arm in said opposite direction, friction coupling means operatively connectable with said actuating arm, one-way coupling means operatively interposed between said drive means and said friction coupling means and operatively connecting said drive means to said actuating arm to open said door, said shaft extending into said cylinder,

a crank arm fixed to said shaft, a connecting rod pivoted to said crank arm, said cylinder being filled with fluid, a braking piston in said cylinder pivoted to said connecting rod, first valve means in said piston, and second valve means connected to said cylinder, said first and second valve means serving to provide a brake-free operation of said actuating arm for a first portion of the movement thereof in both said first direction and in said opposite direction, and a braked operation of said actuating arm during the remaining portion of the movements thereof.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first valve means is a one-way fluid flow valve in said piston.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said second valve means includes a conduit connected between opposite ends of said cylinder, and a one-way fluid flow valve provided in said conduit.

4. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said spring means includes a spiral spring connected on its inside end to said shaft and having its outside end fixed to said housing.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4, including rotary cams on said shaft, switch means connected to said motor 1,249;1 10 Kaisennafl Dec. 4, 1911 

